Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

New Delhi, (IANS) : Stressing on the importance of effective implementation of welfare schemes, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday any negligence in implementing welfare schemes for minorities would not be tolerated.

“The schemes should not just remain on papers, they should be visible … Government officials should reach out at the ground level and monitor properly…so that benefit of every welfare scheme reaches even the last person of the society,” said Naqvi.

He also launched a toll-free number that would provide information regarding programmes and schemes of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC).

On the occasion a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Ministry of Minority Affairs and NMDFC for the year 2016-17.

NMDFC was assigned Rs 467 crore to disburse during 2016-17 to its State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) for onward lending at concessional rates to the eligible poor members of the minority community.

He also released the first Urdu edition of NMDFC’s magazine ‘Parwaz’.

“Effective implementation of welfare schemes is more important than announcing new ones,” said the minister asserting that the Centre’s priority was “development” and progress of poor, weaker sections and minorities.

Only development could defeat any form of negativity, he said adding that “exploitation of voters” in the name of caste, religion was replaced by “empowerment of voters” under the Narendra Modi government.

Naqvi said that more concerted efforts were required for creating awareness among targeted groups about the schemes and programmes of the NMDFC.

“There is a need to simplify procedures and reduce waiting time for sanctioning of loans,” he added.